Chapter 2: The Human Girl in Chains
The morning came with screams.
Rin's eyes snapped open. The cave was still, the small goblin girl sleeping beside him. But outside something was wrong.
He crawled to the entrance, peering through the mist. Down the slope of the forest path, he saw it:
A human caravan.
Six armored men. Two wagons. And inside one of them
a girl in chains.
She looked barely seventeen. Her hair silver-white, her skin pale, and her eyes burning with defiance. Even covered in dirt and bruises, her presence was striking, almost divine.
The humans were laughing as they whipped the wagon beasts. "We'll sell this one in the capital. Even filthy, she's worth a fortune."
Rin's blood boiled.
The human world… it hadn't changed at all. Even in this life, they preyed on the weak.
He looked down at his trembling green hands. Weak. Small. Powerless.
Then the System pulsed in his vision.
[Quest: Interfere or Observe]
Option 1: Stay hidden remain safe.
Option 2: Intervene possible death, possible evolution.
Reward (Option 2): ??
He didn't hesitate.
"Let's gamble," he muttered.
He moved like a shadow through the trees, circling the wagons. His new skill, Instinct Surge, activated automatically.
[Instinct Surge: Heightened senses. Temporary combat clarity. Duration: 60 seconds.]
Everything slowed down.
He saw every breath, every motion, every opening.
When the nearest guard turned, Rin lunged biting deep into his throat.
Blood sprayed. The man gurgled and fell. Another shouted, "Monster! A goblin!"
Before they could draw swords, Rin grabbed the fallen guard's dagger and slashed wildly.
Steel met flesh. Pain burned through him, but he didn't stop. He fought like an animal fast, desperate, furious.
By the time the last man fell, Rin was drenched in blood. His vision blurred, his lungs screamed for air.
But he was still standing.
The girl in chains stared in disbelief. "A… goblin… saved me?"
Rin stumbled to her side and broke her chains using the dagger. "Can you stand?"
She hesitated. "Why… help me?"
He smiled weakly. "Because I hate seeing the strong treat the weak like trash."
Her expression softened for a moment. Then the System's voice echoed again:
[True Emotional Resonance Detected]
Bond Formed: Lyria Human Mage Apprentice.
Bond Level: 1 → 2]
Evolution Progress: 100%]
[Evolving…]
Golden light engulfed Rin's body. His bones cracked, his muscles tightened, his height shot up by nearly a foot. His skin darkened slightly, taking on a deeper, armored tone.
The pain was unbearable yet it felt… right.
> [Evolution Complete: Goblin → High Goblin]
[New Ability Unlocked: Aura Detection]
[Stats Increased x2]
He gasped, falling to one knee, panting. When he looked up, Lyria was staring at him wide-eyed.
"You're… not like other goblins."
He smirked. "No. I'm much worse."
As they hid in the forest, Lyria explained everything: the world's hierarchy, the human kingdoms, and the War of Races that never ended.
Humans saw goblins, orcs, and beasts as lesser life slaves, monsters, things to kill for sport.
Rin clenched his fists. "Then I'll change that. Even if I have to burn kingdoms to ash."
Lyria's eyes gleamed faintly. "Then I'll follow you… for now."
[Bond Strengthened: Lyria trusts you. Power increased.]
For the first time, Rin looked at her not as prey or prize, but as the start of something far greater.
A connection that would forge his rise from nothing to the most feared being in Orth'Lath.
[New Quest: Form a Faction. Recruit Allies.]
[Reward: Unique Title The Goblin King's Shadow.]
He grinned. "A goblin king, huh? Sounds fun."
The forest wind howled, and somewhere in the distance, the first kingdom patrols began to hunt for the caravan's killers.
But Rin didn't care. He had his first ally. His first power. His first taste of what this world could offer.
And he was only just getting started.